ROCKINGHAM — Another Richmond County business is expanding and adding new jobs, state and local leaders announced Monday.
Perdue Foods, LLC — a subsidiary of Maryland-based Perdue Farms Inc. — will be investing $10.9 million in its Rockingham processing plant and hiring 30 new employees over the next three years.
The company has added a production line for making ground chicken for retail grocery stores, according to Julie DeYoung, corporate spokeswoman. She said the expansion allows Perdue to produce a higher value product and provide additional jobs with the new process.
“This is great news for the city of Rockingham and Richmond County,” Mayor Steve Morris said in a statement. “We are glad to see our existing industry growing and hiring local residents. This will benefit our city by hiring new employees, expanding the tax base and the increased demand for our water and sewer.”
Kenneth Robinette, chairman of the Richmond County Board of Commissioners, said Perdue has been a part of the county’s manufacturing base for more than 30 years, adding, “It is very good news that Perdue is re-investing in its operations and creating new jobs.”
“We are pleased to continue to invest in the Rockingham facility and in our associates. This expansion will bring additional jobs and new capabilities to strengthen the Rockingham plant going forward,” Kendall Casey, Perdue Foods’ director of operations in Rockingham, said in a statement. “We appreciate the county and state’s support to help make this happen. Gov. (Pat) McCrory and Agriculture Commissioner (Steve) Troxler have been wonderful partners in this initiative.
“I’d also like to thank the Richmond County (Board of Commissioners) and their senior staff for all of their efforts,” Casey continued. “We also thank the city of Rockingham for their continued partnership with Perdue and the county to make this plant successful and to allow for the continued expansion of the Rockingham Plant. Without their infrastructure investment and support over the years, this operation would not be viable.”
Perdue has operations in 27 states and employees more than 3,400 workers in the Tar Heel State.
“North Carolina welcomes the decision by this longtime consumer foods leader to grow jobs and expand operations in North Carolina,” McCrory said in a statement. “Perdue Foods’ commitment to quality and innovation continues to make it a great fit for our food manufacturing community.”
DeYoung said about 150 contract growers supply the Rockingham plant, the majority of which are in Richmond County. However, the company also contracts with farmers in Anson, Union, Stanly, Montgomery, Moore, Davidson, Randolph, Lee and Harnett counties.
According to the governor’s office, the expansion was made possible in part by a performance-based grant of up to $90,000 from the One North Carolina Fund, which provides financial assistance in support of local governments in creating jobs and attracting economic investment.
Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for grant funds. All One N.C. grants require a local government match.
Also supporting the expansion was a $1 million grant from the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority to Richmond County for assistance with upgrades to a water treatment plant that serves Perdue Farms.
“North Carolina’s food manufacturing industry continues to add jobs and companies of all sizes,” John E. Skvarla III, state commerce secretary, said in a statement. “This industry employs nearly 57,000 North Carolinians, with meat and poultry processors accounting for over half that.”
Troxler said continued investments in agriculture, the state’s No. 1 industry, could soon lead to agribusiness becoming a $1 billion industry.
Both Republican Sen. Tom McInnis and Democratic Rep. Ken Goodman praised the expansion in their home county.
“This is proof that agriculture is the biggest industry in North Carolina, and it’s growing right here in Richmond County,” said McInnis, who has been outspoken in his support for agriculture and rural North Carolina.
“These new jobs and investment dollars are important to Richmond County’s economy,” said Goodman. “I commend our economic development partners for their work in making this announcement possible.”
Perdue is the largest private employer — followed by FirstHealth, CSX and Plastek — in Richmond County, with more than 1,000 workers, according to economic developer Martie Butler.
Less than a month ago, Plastek announced a $2.5 million investment and the addition of 23 jobs.
International Textile Group made a similar announcement last year regarding a $2 million investment to upgrade the manufacturing capabilities of its Cordova plant, as well as implementing a new operating schedule which is expected to produce 10 additional jobs within the next year.
Global Packaging also announced last year that it would expand its Richmond County manufacturing plant, hiring 33 new workers and investing more than $13 million in the facility over the next five years.
“Our existing industries are the lifeblood of our community,” Butler told county commissioners at last week’s meeting.
North Carolina has seen the creation of more than 260,000 private-sector jobs since McCrory was sworn in three years ago, according to the governor’s office.
The expansion project was a partnership between a variety of state and local governments: the N.C. Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of N.C., the General Assembly, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the N.C. Community College System, the Richmond County Board of Commissioners, Richmond County Economic Development, the city of Rockingham and the Lumber River Workforce Development Board.
Reach reporter William R. Toler at 910-817-2675 and follow him on Twitter @William_r_Toler.
